The Wheel of Time Companion

The Wheel of Time Companion is a comprehensive reference guide to Robert Jordan's epic fantasy series, published by Tor Books in 2015. The book was created by Harriet McDougal, Jordan's widow, along with his former editorial assistants Alan Romanczuk and Maria Simons. This encyclopedia-style volume contains extensive A-to-Z entries covering the entire series universe. The contents include character biographies, detailed descriptions of nations and cultures, explanations of magic systems, maps of key battles, and a dictionary of the Old Tongue language. Unlike the previous companion volume from 1997, this book presents information from an omniscient perspective rather than from an in-world historian's point of view. The text incorporates previously unreleased material from Jordan's notes and features new character portraits and updated maps. The Companion serves as both a research tool and a testament to the depth of worldbuilding in The Wheel of Time series. The volume documents how Jordan created a fully realized universe with interconnected systems of magic, politics, and culture.

Readers view this companion book as a detailed but flawed reference work for The Wheel of Time series. Readers appreciated: - Comprehensive character listings with physical descriptions - In-depth information about the One Power and channeling - Details about locations, cultures, and historical events - Clear organization and alphabetical entries Common criticisms: - Contains errors and inconsistencies with the main series - Missing entries for some significant characters/concepts - Too many spoilers without warnings - Limited new information for dedicated fans - Lacks detailed maps and illustrations Many readers noted it works better as a reference while reading the series rather than a standalone resource. Several mentioned disappointment that it wasn't as extensive as The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (900+ ratings) Most recommend it for existing fans but not as an introduction to the series.

The Complete Guide to Middle-earth by Robert Foster This reference guide provides detailed entries about characters, places, and events in Tolkien's world with the same encyclopedic approach used in the Wheel of Time Companion.

The World of Ice & Fire by George R. R. Martin, Elio M. García Jr., Linda Antonsson This companion book contains the histories, genealogies, and background information for Martin's fantasy series with comprehensive detail matching the Wheel of Time Companion's scope.

The Atlas of Pern by Karen Wynn Fonstad The maps, diagrams, and geographical information about Anne McCaffrey's world mirror the detailed location entries found in the Wheel of Time Companion.

The Dictionary of the Khazars by Milorad Pavić This lexicon-style novel presents interconnected entries about an imaginary people in a format that will appeal to readers who appreciate the reference-book style of the Wheel of Time Companion.

The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones This encyclopedia of fantasy tropes and conventions catalogs elements of the genre in an organized reference format similar to the Wheel of Time Companion.

🔹 Harriet McDougal, besides being a co-author of the Companion, was Robert Jordan's wife and editor, playing a crucial role in shaping The Wheel of Time series from its inception. 🔹 The Old Tongue dictionary in the Companion contains over 1,000 entries, making it the most comprehensive collection of the constructed language ever published. 🔹 The book features more than 30 new maps that were never published in the original series, providing readers with unprecedented detail about the geography of Jordan's world. 🔹 The character entries in the Companion cover more than 2,000 named individuals who appear throughout the series' 14 books. 🔹 After Robert Jordan's passing in 2007, McDougal, Romanczuk, and Simons (known as "Team Jordan") were instrumental in completing the series with Brandon Sanderson using Jordan's notes, many of which were later incorporated into this Companion.